Incinerating method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus are provided for incinerating combustible materials while minimizing delivery of contaminants to the atmosphere. In carrying out the method, air is preheated and introduced into the combustion chamber to feed the fire. Preferably the air is preheated to at least about 300* F., and the combustion products are heated to at least about 600* F., or most preferably to at least about 1000* F. Water droplets are preferably introduced into the combustion chamber during incineration, and the products of combustion may be passed through a moving stream of water. The apparatus includes an elongated incineration housing, means for introducing preheated air, and combustion products removal means. Preferably, the airpreheating means also forms means for recirculating air past the entrance and exit openings in the housing. Means are preferably provided for introducing water droplets into an upper portion of the housing and for burning and scrubbing the combustion products.

United States Patent [72] Inventor WalterErman Chicago,l1l. [21] AppLNo.695,488 [22] Filed .lan.3,1968 [45] Patented Jan. 26, 1971 [73] AssigneeErman Corporation, Incorporated Chicag0,lll. a corporation of Kansas[54] INCINERATING METHOD AND APPARATUS '5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 110/8, 110/179 [51] Int.Cl F23g7/00 [50] FieldofSearch110/7all,,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,514,657 7/1950 Martinetal.110/18X 2,936,724 5/1960 Bishop 110/18 3,396,683 8/1968 Ford 110/183,417,717 12/1968 Jacobovici. 110/18X 830,974 9/1906 Decarie 110/8A1,434,135 10/1922 Macfadden. 126/113 1,529,755 3/1925 Stein 263/28Primary Examiner-Kenneth W. Sprague Att0rney1-1ume, Clement, Hume & Lee

ABSTRACT: Method and apparatus are provided for incinerating combustiblematerials while minimizing delivery of contaminants to the atmosphere.In carrying out the method, air is preheated and introduced into thecombustion chamber to feed the tire, Preferably the air is preheated toat least about 300 F., and the combustion products are heated to atleast about 600 F., or most preferably to at least about 1000 F. Waterdroplets are preferably introduced into the combustion chamber duringincineration, and the products of combustion may be passed through amoving stream of water. The apparatus includes an elongated incinerationhousing, means for introducing preheated air, and combustion productsremoval means. Preferably, the air-preheating means also forms means forrecirculating air past the entrance and exit openings in the housing.Means are preferably provided for introducing water droplets into anupper portion of the housing and for burning and scrubbing thecombustion products.

PATENTED M26 1971 5 57. 722

SHEET 2 BF 2 INCINERATING METHOD AND APPARATUS The present inventionrelates to improvements in air pollution control, and more specificallyto an improved incinerating method and apparatus.

Incineration is a commonplace technique for removing unwantedcombustible material in the scrapping of railroad rolling stock,automobiles, and the like, as well as for disposing of material such asgarbage. Incineration yields a number of gases along with liquid and/orparticulate materials, all of which are referred to collectively asproducts of combustion." Included are primarily particulate carbon andits gaseous oxides, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, as well as otherproducts, depending on the nature of the materials being incinerated.Often, products of combustion include such compounds as sulfur andnitrogen oxides, as well as unburned or partially burned petroleumproducts and other incompletely oxidized organic materials.

While carbon dioxide is odorless and harmless, the other products ofcombustion will contaminate the atmosphere unless they are interceptedand removed or oxidized to a harmless form. A variety of basic methodsfor removal of oxidation or contaminants is, well-known, includingelectrostatic precipitation, oxidizing or afterburning" the combustionproducts to form harmless oxides, and washing to remove particles and todissolve liquid or gaseous contaminants. It is the object of the presentinvention to provide an improved method and apparatus for incineratingmaterials while minimizing delivery of such contaminants to theatmosphere.

Generally, the present invention relates to an incinerating method andapparatus wherein combustible materials are introduced into a chamberfor incineration. It has been found that incineration at hightemperatures aids in the destruction of contaminants, and thatsufficiently high temperatures may be achieved by introducing preheatedair into the chamber during the incineration process. The products ofcombustion formed are removed from the chamber and delivered to theatmosphere significantly reduced in contaminants.

In its basic form, the apparatus includes a combustion housing havingpreheating means for introducing preheated air into the chamber andcombustion products removal means for removing products of combustion.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,taken with the objects and advantages thereof, will be best understoodby reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an a end view of the device who shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a partial cross section view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1.

In carrying out the method of the present invention, combustiblematerials are introduced into an incineration chamber and burned whilepreheated air is simultaneously introduced. Preferably, the air ispreheated to a temperature of at least about 300 F. The introduction ofpreheated air into the chamber will generally produce a burningtemperature sufficiently high to heat the products of combustion to atleast about 600 If the burning temperature is not high enough, theproducts of combustion may be heated in a separate step. Preferably, theproducts of combustion are heated to a temperature of at least aboutl,000 F. within the chamber in order to obtain relatively completedestruction of gaseous and particulate contaminants.

In addition to heating at relatively high temperatures, it is alsopreferred that a fine spray of water droplets be introduced into anupper portion of the incineration chamber. Of course, this water must beintroduced at a rate below that which would put out the fire or cause itto burn at such a low temperature that production of incompletelyoxidized contaminants is increased. The introduction of water dropletsaids in removing contaminants that would otherwise be delivered to theatmosphere by-making ash and other particulate materials heavier, andthus causing them to settle to the bottom of the chamber, while alsotending to dissolve and remove odorcausing contaminants. The latter is aparticularly important advantage when odoriferous materials such asgarbage are being incinerated. It is usually unnecessary to remove thewater from the bottom of the chamber, since most of it is absorbed bythe solid products of combustion on the chamber floor. However, theliquid may be drained from the chamber floor if necessary.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. I shows an apparatus embodying thefeatures of the present invention. While the apparatus shown is intendedprimarily for use in incinerating combustible materials on railroadrolling stock as a step in obtaining scrap and salvage materials, itcould, with slight, obvious modification, be used for the incinerationof garbage, automobiles, and other materials producing particulate andgaseous contaminants upon incineration. The apparatus includes anincineration housing, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, and acombustion products removal system generally indicated by referencenumeral 11.

The incineration housing 10 is basically an elongated structure havingopenings 12 in the opposite ends. As best shown in FIG. 2, the structureis externally suspended from a plurality of A-frame members 13 havingtheir ends embedded in the earth l4 and supporting a pair of sidewalls15. Such external suspension prevents the A-frame members 13 from beingsubjected to heat. The sidewalls 15 are made preferably of sheet metal,and have an upward and inward slope. Located on top of the apparatus area pair of smoke collectors 16 of generally horizontal, cylindricalconfiguration, having smoke ports or openings 18 on the undersidethereof.

The combustion products removal system 11 includes a pair of flues 20communicating with the smoke collectors l6 and leading to the inlet portof an afterburner 22. The flues 20 preferably contain internal bafiles25 to remove any large particulate contaminant carried into them. Theoutlet port of the afterburner 22, is connected to a second flue 24leading to a scrubbing tower 26. Located at the top of the scrubbingtower 26 is an exhaust fan 28 driven by a motor 30. It is the functionof the exhaust fan 28 to draw gases through the incineration housing 10as well as the combustion products removal system 11, including theflues 20, the afterburner 22, and the scrubbing tower 26.

The afterburner 22 and the scrubbing tower 26 are of conventionaldesign, as will be familiar to those skilled in the art. Both areoptional in the present invention, depending upon the amount ofcontaminants that must be removed from the combustion products and thetemperatures obtained during incineration. If the incinerationtemperature is sufiiciently high, an afterburner may not be needed. Theafterburner 22 heats the gaseous products to a temperature of at leastabout 600 F., and preferably at least about l,000 F. Much highertemperatures can be obtained, depending upon the particular design ofthe device. The scrubbing tower 26 delivers a downwardly flowing streamof water past the combustion products, and is effective in removing mostparticulate or gaseous contaminants that may remain in the combustionproducts.

In the preferred embodiment the incineration housing 10 will bewater-cooled, obviating the need for refractory lining materials. Thecooling system generally comprises a pair of concave water retainers 40running the entire length of the sidewalls 15. The water retainers 40form a portion of the roof of the incineration housing 10, the remainderbeing covered by the smoke collectors l6 and three convex roof portions41. The water retainers 40 have outer edges which extend over theuppermost portion of the sloped sidewalls 15. The outer edges of thewater retainers 40 have openings 42 that allow water to flow out of theretainers 40 over the sidewalls 15, providing a cooling function. Thewater retained in the retainers 40 provides maximum cooling at an upperportion of the incineration housing 10 where it is needed most. Water isdelivered to the retainers 40 by a cooling water feed line 44 at the topof the incineration housing 10, suspended at the apex of the A-framemembers 13, and extending for the major portion of the length of theincineration housing 10. The cooling water feed line 44 has openings(not shown) in the underside thereof to spray water over thetop of thehousing 10, cooling the smoke collectors 16 and convex roof portions 41before running into the water retainers 40. While most of the water willevaporate, that which does not is collected in suitable troughs (notshown) located at the base of the sidewalls 15 and recirculated throughthe system or delivered to a drain (not shown).

Referring to FIG. 2 taken together with F 1G. 1, the ends of theincineration housing have openings 12 which provide air intakes as wellas a place for introducing an and removing combustible materials fromthe housing 10. Each opening 12 has an air recirculating system fordelivering a stream of air across it. After it has been delivered pastthe opening 12, the air is collected and a portion is recirculated pastthe opening 12. The air-recirculating system includes a blower 46 whichdelivers air to a distribution housing 50 which distributes the air fromthe fan 46 to a narrow, vertical outlet slit 51. The slit 51 extends theentire height of the opening 12, and directs the air into theincineration housing 10. Some of this air, along with some of the air asit is delivered past the opening 12, will be taken into the housing 10as a result of the suction caused by the exhaust fan 28. The remainderis removed from an upper portion of the housing 10, adjacent to the aircollector 52, by a recirculation pipe 54 and delivered to the intakeport of the fan 46. This air, which will have been heated by itsexposure to the fire in the housing 10, will be recirculated through thedistribution housing 50 past the opening 12. Of course, air that istaken into the incineration housing 10 will be replaced at the openings12 by outside air.

Besides preheating the air, the use of recirculating air at the openings12 permits the continuous introduction and removal of materials in theincineration housing 10 without any need for doors to prevent deliveryof contaminants to the atmosphere.

When the incinerator is located out of doors, the distribution housing50 and the collector 52 are preferably rotatable through a small areabout a vertical axis in order to permit adjustment for wind conditionsso that the incinerator can operate at maximum efficiency. Of course, ifthe incineration housing 10 is shielded from the wind, such adjustmentis not generally necessary.

Referring to FIG. 3, the interior of the incineration housing 10preferably includes water spray nozzles 56 for introducing waterdroplets in the form of a fine mist or fog into the interior of thehousing 10. in the embodiment shown, the interior also includes rails 58for delivering rolling stock to the device.

In operation, the material to be incinerated, such as railroad rollingstock intended for scrap, is delivered to the device on the rails 58,and is preferably ignited after it is in the interior. After theincinerating process have has reached equilibrium, the air movingbetween the air distribution housing 50 and the collector 52 at the endsof the incineration housing 10, will have reached a temperature of atleast about 300 F. As the rolling stock is burned, the temperaturewithin the apparatus generally reaches at least about 600 F., andpreferably at least about 1,000 E, and many of the products ofcombustion are destroyed by these high temperatures. Others settle tothe floor, carried by the water spray from the spray nozzles 56. Sincemost of the spray from the nozzles 56 is either vaporized or absorbed byparticulate products of combustion, it is not generally necessary toprovide drain means for removing this water from the interior of theincineration housing 10.

The remaining products of combustion enter the smoke collectors 16through the smoke ports 18 and are delivered to the combustion productsremoval system 11. The combustion products then travel through the flues20 past the baffles 21, where a further portion of the solid materialsis removed. The remaining products of combustion continue to theafterburncr 22, where they are burned. The temperature in theafterburner must be at least about 600}; and preferably at least aboutl,000 F., for efficient operation. Finally, any products of combustionthat may remain are largely dissolved or physically removed when thematerials pass through the scrubbing tower 26, where a downwardly movingstream of water is passed through the products of combustion. The gasesthat remain, which are relatively free of contaminants, are drawn out ofthe apparatus by the fan 28 and delivered to the atmosphere. The rate ofpassage of gases through the apparatus, and thus the overall rate ofcombustion may be controlled by the speed of the fan 28.

When the rolling stock (not shown) within the apparatus has beencompletely incinerated, it is removed, while more rolling stock isinserted into the opposite end, providing for continuous operation.

Clearly, the apparatus of'the present invention has many applicationswith slight modifications that will be obvious to those skilled in theart. For example, garbage could be continuously delivered to theapparatus on a stainless steel or other nonflammable conveyor. Becauseof the recirculating air design, of the openings 12, continuousoperation is possible, while delivery of contaminants and odors to theatmosphere is prevented.

While the embodiments described herein are at present considered to bepreferred, it will be understood that various modifications andimprovements may be made therein and it is intended to cover in theappended claims all such modification and improvements as fall withinthe true spirit and scope of the invention.

lclaim:

1. An incinerator comprising: an elongated incineration housing havingoppositely disposed entrance and exit openings; means for recirculatingair past said openings; collecting means located in a upper portion ofsaid housing for collecting combustion products from materials burnedwithin said housing; combustion products removal means including awithdrawal means for withdrawing products of combustion from saidhousing; afterbuming means in said combustion products removal means forburning products of combustion; water spray means in an upper portion ofsaid housing; and cooling means for passing water over the exterior ofsaid housing and said collecting means.

2. The incinerator of claim 1 wherein said housing has generallyupwardly and inwardly sloped sidewalls and is suspended from externalframe members.

3. The incinerator of claim 2 wherein said cooling means includes waterretention means for retaining a portion of said water over an upperportion of said housing.

4. An incinerator comprising: an elongated incineration housing havingoppositely disposed entrance and exit openings; means for recirculatingair past said openings; collecting means located in an upper portion ofsaid housing for collecting combustion products from materials burnedwithin said housing; combustion products removal means including awithdrawal means for withdrawing products of combustion from saidhousing; afterbumer means in said combustion products removal means forburning products of combustion;

and cooling means for passing water over the exterior of said housingand said collection means.

5. The incinerator of claim 41 wherein said cooling means includes waterretention means for retaining a portion of said water over an upperportion of said housing.

(5,69) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF COR Patent No.3,557,722 Dated airman! 25 191 lnvemol-(s) Walter Erman It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 49 delete "who" Column 3, line 13, delete "an" Column 3,line 21, after "12", delete and insert --The air is delivered past theopening 12 to a collector 52, which a1 extends the entire height of theopening 12,--

Column 3, line 54, delete "have" Column 4, line 3, delete Signed andsealed this 11th day of May 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.F'1'.E'1CHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SGHUYIER, J1 Attesting OfficerGomissionor of Patent:

1. An incinerator comprising: an elongated incineration housing havingoppositely disposed entrance and exit openings; means for recirculatingair past said openings; collecting means located in a upper portion ofsaid housing for collecting combustion products from materials burnedwithin said housing; combustion products removal means including awithdrawal means for withdrawing products of combustion from saidhousing; afterburning means in said combustion products removal meansfor burning products of combustion; water spray means in an upperportion of said housing; and cooling means for passing water over theexterior of said housing and said collecting means.
 2. The incineratorof claim 1 wherein said housing has generally upwardly and inwardlysloped sidewalls and is suspended from external frame members.
 3. Theincinerator of claim 2 wherein said cooling means includes waterretention means for retaining a portion of said water over an upperportion of said housing.
 4. An incinerator comprising: an elongatedincineration housing having oppositely disposed entrance and exitopenings; means for recirculating air past said openings; collectingmeans located in an upper portion of said housing for collectingcombustion products from materials burned within said housing;combustion products removal means including a withdrawal means forwithdrawing products of combustion from said housing; afterburner meansin said combustion products removal means for burning products ofcombustion; and cooling means for passing water over the exterior ofsaid housing and said collection means.
 5. The incinerator of claim 4wherein said cooling means includes water retention means for retaininga portion of said water over an upper portion of said housing.